English · Nature & Environment

icicle

/ˈaɪsɪkəl/

[/ˈaɪsɪkəl/]

a hanging spike of ice

Intermediatenoun

Definition

A long, thin, pointed piece of ice that hangs down, formed when dripping water freezes. They often hang from roofs or branches in cold weather.

Example

A long icicle hung from the edge of the roof.

A long icicle hung from the edge of the roof.

Etymology

From Old English 'īs' (ice) and 'gicel' (icicle, piece of ice).

How & Where It’s Used

Common in winter scenes for spikes of ice hanging from surfaces.

Watch “a hanging spike of ice” pronunciation on YouTube
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